Lining guide for tie sewing machines



July 6, 1943. c. w. JOHNSON I 2,323,543,

- LINING GUIDE FOR TIE SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. 7. 1940' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 30/26 FIG. 1 -aw i 2 Q 2 Q 1" ,2? .51 E a 11 3 1a 12 72 I] Ill! 0 INVENTOR CARL VLJOHNSON y 1943- c. w. JOHNSON 2,323,543

LINING GUIDE FOR TIE SEWING MACHINES INVENTOR BY rm CARL w. QHNSQN Patented July 6, 1943 LINING GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Carl W. Johnson, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 7, 1940, Serial No. 317,677.

11 Claims. (Cl. 112-152) This invention relates to guiding'mechanism by which strip material being fed to a stitching position for the stitching operation in a sewing machine is to be guided so that the stitching will follow a predetermined line on the strip material; and the invention relates especially to.

guiding means whereby the tapered lining strip of a necktie will be so guided that the line of stitching will coincide with the mid-line of the tapered lining strip, regardless of the degree and extent of the taper at the opposite edges of the lining strip.

The invention relates more particularly to an embodiment of such a guiding mechanism in which a pair of guide elements is provided with a spring device to bias them for equal and opposite movement into engagement with the opposite tapered edges of the liningstrip material used in making neckties, although the invention is capable of utilization in any field to which it is adapted by the nature of the present improvements.

An object of the invention .is to provide a simple form of guiding mechanism which will obviate the need for using patterns of any sort in guiding the lining strip of a necktie machine in such a manner that the lining strip will always be centralized with reference to the stitch line.

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which the lining strip for a necktie will be presented to the opposed guiding devices in such a manner that the raw edges of the lining strip will be supported against crumpling action by the guides as they are biased yieldingly against said raw edges during the operation of running the necktie material through the mechanism.

Accordingly, the invention consists primarilyin the provision of means for linking two guide elements for equal and opposite motion, as by gear segments, a ball and slot joint, or equivalent means, and spring pressing the guide elements against the tapered sides of the lining strip as the lining is drawn through the guide elements, so that they will move toward and away from each other equally and constitute the exclusive means by which the lining is maintained with its mid-line coincident with the line of stitching.

The invention consists also in the provision of a guide throat so confined that there is no tendency of the raw edges of a tapered lining strip to crumple under the action of the guides.

The invention consists also in the provision of a throat of the above character with a swinging portion which may be swung open to facilitate insertion of the lining strip.

The invention consists also in the organization of guiding means having the foregoing features with a stitching mechanism having means operating in an orbital path for advancing the assembled strips of material for stitching by means of a two-pointed needle actuated by vertically opposed stitching heads which are constructed and arranged to grasp the needle in alternation and reciprocate it at a fixed stitching position. Other features and objects of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several view which make up the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the sewing machine provided with the linin guide;

Figure 2 is a detail plan view taken from line 2--2 of Figure 1: v

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lining guide device;

Figure dis a sectional end elevation of the same taken from line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 isa detail view of the guide member as seen from line 5-5 of Figure 3 Referring to Figure 1, the portion of the sewing machine shown is of the same type as disclosed in my patent application Serial No. 289,907, filed August 12, 1939. A cam l0 which is suitably driven by means not shown, revolvesabout a stationary shaft ll supported by a bracket i2 secured to the frame of the machine. The cam i0 is provided with a cam track l3 engaging cam rollers l4 and I5 positioned at diametrically opposite points, these rollers being carried by slides l6 and I1, respectively, guided in a runway formed by attack It provided in bracket I2 and by gibs l9 and 20 secured to the. end wall 2| of bracket I! (as shown in Figure 2). Each of the slides is provided with a,li1g 22 carrying a link 23 connecting with the rearward end of their respective oscillating arms 24 and 25 mounted on intermediate pivot studs 26 carried by bracket l2. An upper needle bar 21 and a lower needle bar 28, arranged in alignment are provided with actuator arms 29 connectin with the forward ends of arms 24 and 25, in the same.

needle to perform the stitching. It will be un-"' derstood by those skilled in the art that in this type of machine the needle 33 is alternately grasped by the jaws of each needle bar. Inasmuch as the operation of transferring the needle from one needle bar to the other is fully described in my previous application, a detailed description of the same is omitted in this case in the interest of brevity.

The lining guide device (shown in Figures 31 and 4, consists of a support plate 40 which is fitted into a recessed portion 4| of the sewing machine table .42. The plate 40 is spaced from a bottom plate 43 by bars 44, 45 and 45 (see- Figure 3) and in the gap formed between the plates 40 and 43, a pair of guide arms 41 and i 48 is provided, the members of which pair swing from their full-line position to their dotted line position. Each of the guide arms 41 and 48 is pivotally mounted on a stud 49 supported by the bottom plate 43, said guide arms being normally biased toward a closed position by a spring 50 connected between depending ear 5| of the said guide arms.

The tie lining L preformed with tapered edges L and L", is placed upon plate 40 and passes under a hinged plate 52 and is guided through the U-shaped portions 53 of arms 4! and 48, and the operator then advances the linin to a position past the stitching position 211 of needle 34, and the tie material T is now placed properly over the lining L and is manipulated against a tie guide 54 adjustably mounted on table 42. With the lining L and tie material T in place, the machine is started and the consequent sewing operation stitches the lining and tie material together along the stitching line S which is to be maintained along the mid-line of the lining, as shown in Figure 3 and in the manner now to be described.

The lining L and the tie material T is intermittently fed one stitch at a time by means to be presently described. The advancement of the symmetrically tapered lining'L causes the arms 41 and 48 to be moved toward or away from each other equally and oppositely, so that the lining is always centralized with respect to the stitch line S. The sides of the lining cause the movement of the guide members about their pivot studs 49, said arms being moved in unison by means of the engagement of suitable connections, such as the ball shaped end 55 of arm 48 with an open end slot 56 of arm 41. It is to be understood that the ball and slot connection 5556 is illustrative, and is not intended to exclude the use of intermeshing segmental gears, or pin-and-slot connections, or other suitable means adapted to secure equal and opposite movements of the lining guides. The lining L is positioned by the plate 52, which acts to stiffen the lining to an extent adequate to overcome any crumpling pressure of the spring 50. sertion of the lining, and is spaced from plate "by washers 51 to afford ample clearance to permil; travel of the lining.

The work is advanced intermittently stitch by stitch from the motion derived from a cam de- The plate 52 is hinged to permit easy invice 60 mounted on a driven shaft 8|, the end of shaft Bl terminating in a crank pin 62 carrying a roller 63 engaging an elongated slot 54 provided in the lower end of a'lever 65 connecting to an arm 66 of a bell-crank lever loosely mounted on a stud 61 supported by the frame of the machine. Lever 65 is provided with a stud 68 carrying a roller 69 engaging in a slot 10 of the head of a l'-stud ll suitably supported in the frame of the machine. The other arm of bell-crank lever 56 in turn is hooked up to a fork I2 connecting to one end of a material feed arm 13 whereby to and fro motion is imparted to the same.

An up and down movement is imparted to arm 13 by cam 50 which actuates a cam roller 14 provided on an arm 15 of a bell-crank lever loosely -mounted on stud H, the horizontally extending arm 16 of the lever supporting one end of an adjustable link 11 connecting to a depending arm 18 of member I3 and in this manner the arm 18 is moved about its pivot 13, while being oscillated horizontally.

A material feed plate 80, attached to arm 13, is provided with a serrated surface adapted to engage and advance the work. This plate is of the usual type employed in sewing machines, having an opening through which the needle passes to perform its stitching operation. As each stitch is completed, the arm 13, through its connections, is caused to index, that is, the arm descends slightly, carrying the work away from the pressure foot 8|, and then the armraises the plate 80 and moves it forward, advancing the work in readiness for the next stitch.

A further detailed description of the operation of this particular sewing machine has been omitted for the sake of brevity, in view of the fact that a detailed description may be found in my former application, Serial No. 289,907, above referred to. It is understood that the guide device disclosed in the present application can be used with other type sewingmachines also and was not intended for exclusive use with a sewing machine such as the one above referred to. It is shown connected to this particular machine for the purpose of illustration.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustrate the invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. It is not, therefore, to

be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is: 1. In a guiding'mechanism of the class described, wherein a tapered running strip of material is maintained with its mid-line at a fixed stitching position,a pair of follower-guide-devices, means for yieldingly biasing said follower-guide-devices toward each other to a position where they rest against the opposite edges of the material being guided,'upper and lower plates disposed in close arrangement with a spacing therebetween slightly greater than the erate with the raw edges of a tapered running strip, as in a tapered lining strip of a necktie.

3. A guiding mechanism having the features claimed in claim 1, a hinged mounting for said upper plate constructed and arranged to permit a swinging motion of said plate to facilitate insertion of said tapered strip when in open position and to support said strip against crlmipling when in closed guiding position.

4. In a sewing machine, guiding mechanism for assembling for stitching at a fixed stitching position, a first tapered running strip of material varying in width along its length, with a second running strip of material; said mechanism comprising a pair of guide members each provided with a follower-and-guide device disposed for engagement with the opposite edges of said tapered first strip, interengaged means on said members coacting to cause equal and opposed movements of said devices relatively to the mid-line of said first strip, and means acting to bias said followerguide-devices yieldingly into engagement with said opposite edges of said tapered first strip for maintaining the mid-line of said tapered first running strip in constant registry with said fixed stitching position, said tapered first running strip being free for lateral displacement by said oppositely biased follower-guide-devices.

5. Guiding mechanism for assembling for stitching at a fixed stitching position in a sewing machine, a first tapered running strip of material varying in width along its length, with a second running strip of material; said mechanism comprising a pair of guide members each provided with a device disposed for engagement with the opposite edges of said tapered first strip, interengaged means on said members coacting to cause equal and opposed movements of said devices relatively to the mid-line of said tapered first strip,

. and means acting to bias said devices into engagement with said opposite edges of said tapered first strip, said means and devices being constructed and arranged to yieldingly follow the contours of the opposite edges of said tapered first strip to maintain the mid-line thereof in constant registry with said fixed stitching position as said tapered first strip is pulled between said devices.

6. Guiding mechanism for assembling for stitching at a fixed stitching position in a sewing machine, a first tapered running strip of material varying in width along its length, with a second running strip of material; said mechanism comprising a pair of guide members each. provided with a device disposed for engagement with the opposite edges of said tapered first strip, interengaged means on said members coacting to cause equal and opposed movements of said devices relatively to the mid-line of said tapered first strip, means acting to bias said devices yieldingly into engagement with said opposite edges of said tapered first strip, said tapered first running strip being free for lateral displacement by said oppositely biased devices, said members cooperating to maintain said tapered first running strip with itsmid-line in constant registry with said fixed stitching position, and a guide-means for said second running strip mounted at a fixed distance from said stitching position and being constructed and arranged free from engagement with said tapered first strip and acting to restrict said second running strip to straight line movement past said fixed stitching position.

'7. Guiding mechanism for assembling for stitching at a fixed stitching position in a sewing machine, a first tapered running strip of material varying in width along its length, with a second running strip of material; said mechanism comprising a pair of guide members each provided with a device disposed for engagement with the opposite edges of said tapered first strip, interengaged means on said members coacting to cause equal and opposed movements of said devices relatively to the mid-line of said tapered first strip, means acting to bias said devices yieldingly into engagement with said opposite edges of said tapered first strip, said tapered first running strip being free for lateral displacement by said oppositely biased devices, and said devices cooperating to maintain said tapered first running strip with its mid-line in constant registry with said fixed stitching position; and a guide-means for said second running strip, having a straight edge mounted at a fixed distance from said stitching position and being constructed and arranged to permit free movements of said tapered first strip while acting to restrict said straight edge of the second running strip to straight line movement past said first stitching position.

8'. In a guiding mechanism of the class described, wherein a tapered necktie lining is maintained with its mid-line at a fixed stitching position, a pair of necktie lining guide members interconnected whereby a movement of one guide member will produce an equal and opposite movement in the other guide member, means biasing said members toward each other to engage the opposite edges of the necktie lining, and means having a spacing therebetween slightly greater.

than the thickness of a lining through which a lining passes when traveling to said fixed stitching station, said last named means being positioned to cooperate with said members to prevent the lining from crumpling under the inward guiding action of said members.

9. A,necktie sewing machine in combination with a guiding device comprising, a support, a pair of interconnected arms pivotally mounted at one end to said support; guide elements adaptedto engage the opposite edges of a tapered tie lining associated with the other end of each of said arms, said. elements having laterally extending portions underlying and overlying a portion of the flat surface of the lining adjacent the edge thereof; means urging said guide elements toward one another, said means being yieldable to the outward pressure of the edges of a tapered tie lining; and substantially stationary means for preventing said lining from crumpling under the inward action of said guide elements.

10. A guiding device for a sewing machine for guiding necktie linings and other like material of non-uniform width, comprising, a pair of oppositely disposed guiding members for guiding the center line of a tie lining to a stitching station, means interconnecting said members whereby a movement of one guide member will cause an equal and opposite movement of the other guide member, means for lightly biasing said members toward each other to a position in which they are held against further movement by their engagement with the edges of said lining, and means disposed in close proximity with said guiding members for supporting said lining against crumpling under the guiding action of said guiding members.

11. Guiding mechanism for assembling for stitching at a fixed stitching position in a sewing machine, a first tapered running strip of material varying in width along its length, with a second running strip of material, said mechanism comprising a pair of movable guide members each provided with a device disposed for engagement with the opposite edges of said tapered first strip, interengaged means connected to said members coacting to cause equal and opposed movements of said devices relatively to the mid-line of said tapered first strip, means acting to bias said devices yieldingly into engagement with said opposite edges of said tapered first strip, said tapered first running strip being free for lateral displacement by said oppositely biased devices, 

